Conference tallis::celt

    Ummmmm, ah ha, yes, yes.  I could fly Ottawa-Boston using my
    Frequent-Flyer points, then fly Aer Lingus to Ireland (non-stop to
    Dublin??).  But I have to wait until 1993!!

    
    Any idea how much it costs if the stay is less than 7 days, like from a
    Wed until Sunday ?,  or will Aer L be still only flying Wed & Fri's ?
    
    

    
    
    Gerry: I think they would actually charge you MORE for a stay of less
           than 7 days ....
    
    Are you coming to the CELT Christmas gathering on Friday Evening ?
    
    	( I hear Willie O'Farrell is in the area)
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    

By the way, do ye know that Aer Lingus gives Frequent Flyer miles on the One Pass
program.  I only discovered that recently.  About 4 trips home and you'd get
an extra one for free.



Bernard, returned recently to the land of the nearly living (DEC  ;-> )

    
    Welcome back Bernard!
    

    
    
    Oh No He's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Welcome back Bernard!!!!!!!!!!
    
    paddy

    
    
    
    	Jaysus ...
    
    
    	Let's have another Party !!!
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    

    
    
    And here is some addition info on Car Renral Rates in Ireland  !!!!
    
    
    MANUAL:  					Low		High
    
    	Ford Fiesta 2/dr			199.00		259.00
    	Ford Escort 4/dr			249.00		309.00
    	Ford Sierra 4/dr			329.00		439.00
    	Ford Sierra Station Wagon		399.00		599.00
    	Minibus 9/Passenger			639.00		799.00
    
    
	AUTOMATIC:				Low		High
    
    	Ford Fiesta				369.00		399.00
    	Nissan Sunny 4/dr			399.00		459.00
    
    
    	Low Season: 	January 1 - June 30 and September 15 - December 18
    	High Season:    July 1 - September 14th
    
    	Age limit 21-70 years with valid drivers license. Minimum 7 day rental.
	Rates include: Tax and unlimited mileage.
    	NOT INCLUDED: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) usually 10.00 per day
                      and Gasoline payable upon pick-up.
    
    
	
    	ps. It's no wonder people can't afford to visit Ireland !!!  :-(
    	    Airfare and a car for 2 weeks during High season = $1258.00 Minimum
    
    
	keVin
    

    Is the CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) waived if you pay by certain
    credit cards?
    
    Geez, the smallest car with manual transmission for 2 weeks would
    be 259*2 + 10*14 = $658 - which is absurd considering that
    doesn't even include petrol (gasoline)!  Add another $200 for
    gasoline and thats $858.   Almost a grand just to rent a motorized
    golf cart.  I hope your talking dollars Kevin and not punts.

    
    
    	I believe CDW can be waived if you use a "Gold Card" to charge 
        your car rental.
    
    	All of the prices I have quoted are from a flyer from Evergreen
    	Travel Agency. They have a deal going that if you make your
        reservations with them before February 29th, for a $125.00 Deposit
    	per person, they will guarantee the fare with the balance due
    	30 days before the flight.
    
    
    	keVin
    
    
    
    	( All prices were in US Dollars.)

    
    	American Express picks up the CDW but only for 15 days.
    
    	The ATT Universal Master Card picks it up for 30 days
    
    	Also check out the Digital rates, the same rates are applicable
    	all year round. Feb same as August. You can use them on 
    	personal trips but DEC wont pick up the insurance.
    

    
    I rented a car from Budget last summer and charged it to my DCU Visa
    Gold card.
    
    I was able to waive the collision damage "insurance" for the entire
    three weeks I rented the car. The people at Shannon gave me no trouble
    whatsoever.
    
    Chris

    Remember that AVIS no longer operates in Ireland.  Just for interest
    sake, I rented an Opel Kadett (2-door, manual) from Dublin airport and
    dropped it off at Cork airport five days later.  I waived CDW and PAI
    with my VISA Gold card and paid $134 (Canadian) for the first week of
    June 1991.  Now, they may have felt sorry for me because I'm Canadian
    and I was travelling with my mother but I think they wanted to avoid an
    embarassing legal situation when I told them about an incident with the
    car:
    
    	upon receiving the car at Dublin airport, I gave the car a thorough
    	check and found it to be in good condition except for a few many
    	dents and scratches which I noted on the form and told the agency about
    	before departing.  The next morning, I noticed that the left front
    	tyre (tire) was down slightly and I doubted that I had run over
    	anything in the short drive from the airport to Raheny (Dublin city).
    	So, I pumped it up outside Naas and continued on to Skibbereen. 
    	The next morning, in Skibbereen, the tyre was completely flat so I
    	drove very slowly to the garage next to the hotel and asked them to
    	replace it with the spare tyre (the mechanic remarked that the tyre
    	had a 'slow puncture', and I was wondering why he smiled when I said I 
    	had a 'slow leak').  The spare was now installed but it had a bent
    	rim, and as I found out through the course of the next few days, it
    	also had a 'slow puncture'.  When I related all of this to the
    	agent at Cork airport, she appeared quite embarassed and apologized
    	profusely.  So, I may have received a 'discount' for my discomfort.
    
    	Pat

    Slow punctures are very common here due to the presence of nails
    rivet stems and other items on our badly maintained, rarely swept
    roads.
    
    I would think they would be difficult to detect in an inspection unless
    the car was in the parking lot for a few days. There is no excusing the
    bent rim as this was visible and should have been replaced.
    
    I will not bother to explain the significance of "a slow leak" to the
    readers of this conference!!!
    

    <<I will not bother to explain the significance of "a slow leak" to the
    <<readers of this conference!!!
    
    	Well, he did say that I could take as long as I needed!  ���

    OK Lads, here are even better rates if you are willing to travel
    to/from the big apple.
    
    NY-Shannon $449
    NY-Dublin  $469
    NY-Knock   $459
    NY-Belfast $459
    NY-Cork    $459
    
    Taxes $34
    
    O'Connors Fairways Travel, Inc.
    800 Second Ave
    NY NY 10017
    
    1-800-662-0550
    1-800-874-9334

    
    What are details around that --- fly out before end of FEB or something
    and stay 7 days ?
    
    I was quoted $900+ to fly Boston Shannon for 5 days in early Apr,
    British Airways can do it for $475, incl the Aer Lingus London/Dublin
    hop
    
    gc

    The $459 is a charter flight - so it's more risky.  Those are summer
    fares - but you have to book before Feb 28.

    RE: .13
    
    I was in Ireland Jan 24-28 and the car I rented was from AVIS -- out of
    Dublin and dropped off in Shannon.
    
    - Rox

You were in Dublin?. You didnt call. No magic bottle for you m'lady.

Also I would not dare have a node name like that. Do'nt you realise what it
means (especially north of Galway)

MBr

    
    MBr,,,
    
    
       You are brutal....  8*)
    
    paddy

    
    
    Martin: If you're real nice to Roxanne, maybe Robbie will write a song
            about YOU  !!!
    
    
    
    keVin
    
    
    ps: Roxanne, enjoyed the concert on GBH' last Friday Night ....  :-)
    

    
    
    Just wondering if anyone has any idea of the Aer Lingus 1992 autumn fares 
    Boston-> Shannon return.   I plan on going to Ireland in early Nov and
    would rather not have to fly via London, unless there is a significant
    saving between Aer Lingus and BA or Virgin Atlantic.   I expect to be
    staying about 7 days.
    
    In case Aer Lingus doesn't work out, anyone know of a good deal via
    London .... i.e. a US carrier linking up with say RYANAIR ( if they are
    still alive ).
    
    Thanks in advance.
    
    GC

    You might watch the "Cheap Airfare" note #4 in NACAD::HOLIDAY_TRAVEL.
    
    Has anybody tried to fly standby with Aer Lingus in recent years?
    
    I mean, if you are just standing there with your bags packed and they
    have an empty seat, you'd think they'd be willing to haggle.
    

    
    I'll check it out that note.  
    
    I also meant to say that I have called the 1-800 number and the lowest 
    price they quoted me was $590 approx.  This seems steep when Delta and 
    other US carriers are advertising 3 nites in London, including Hotel, 
    B&B and return flight for $350.
    

    
    
    	It's no wonder they might go out of business !!!
    
    	I booked my tickets in February for flights in July @ $600.00 each
    
    	A friend booked in June for a flight in July and paid $824.00 !!!
    
    
    	keVin
    

    Current fare quoted for July/August roundtrip Boston<->Dublin
    
    	$759 midweek				+ $17.45 tax
    	$789 weekend					"
    	$659 midweek if stay less than 30 days		"
    	$679 weekend "   "    "    "   "   "		"		
    
    Anybody got any better ideas?
    

    I was quoted $629 Boston/Shannon midweek by Aer Lingus yesterday.
    $666 for weekend.
    
    Round Tower Travel in Norwood has a charter for $499 plus tax.  
    The number is 800-225-9988.  

    
    Hey Julie....so at least I know you're looking.
    
    What's going on with George "no ticket" Darcy?  :^)
    
    /jen
    

    Why not fly Virgin Airlines via London.   They only charge, I am told
    $200 one way, it would hardly be much more return.   You could then
    come to Ireland by bus from Victoria station in London.   This costs
    approx. $100 return.
    
    It is no wonder Air Lingus are going broke, with their high charges.
    
    
    
    Bernie

    RE: .28      by LJOHUB::HORGAN 
    
    >I was quoted $629 Boston/Shannon midweek by Aer Lingus yesterday.
    
    That fare is only valid if you stay less than 30 days.  Why that is, I
    don't know.  I should think they'd charge you less if you're staying
    more than 30 days because you'd be spending more tourist dollars. 
    Perhaps they figure anybody that came for more than a month must be
    staying with relatives.
    

    Anyone know what the rates of Boston/Belfast are?  I suspect less
    than Shannon?

    RE: .32 by NOTICK::DARCY 
    
    >Anyone know what the rates of Boston/Belfast are?  I suspect less
    >than Shannon?
    
    There's that new airline that's flying New York/Belfast that was
    talked about, but I don't remember what it was called.  You'd still
    have to get to New York though.
    

    Forget it then - I'll pay anything not to go through New York!!!
    
    I remember my last shuttle to LaGuardia, then trying to get to JFK
    in a cab with a driver from Haiti on his first day of work who didn't
    speak English...  ;v)

    NOSHIRT::DARCY

    A cab driver from just about anywhere on his/her first day in NY may 
    have had similar difficulties. 
    
    One can also sympathize with the absence of that friendly rapport one 
    usually builds with cabbies who have the good taste to speak a language 
    one understands. 
    
    I can only imagine how disconcerting travel to countries with foreign 
    languages must be.
    
    MAYBEIT'SJUSTME::m
    
    
    
    

    Aha, New York City *is* a foreign country!

    
    Ah.../jen who is sitting smuggly with her ticket bought a couple of
    months ago and is dreaming of walking along the prom in Salthill!
    
    :^)
    
    

    >Ah.../jen who is sitting smuggly with her ticket bought a couple of
    >months ago and is dreaming of walking along the prom in Salthill!
    
    and who would that be with????   ;v}
    
    CURIOUS::George

    
    **and who would that be with????   ;v}
    
    Why, with the ---MOST--- important man in my life....
    
    
    	POOKY - my teddybear! :^)
    
    **CURIOUS::George
    
    I always knew you were a monkey! :^)
    

    When we were a top a hill in county Mayo last year, my wife's cousin
    pointer towards Knock about 20 KM away and stated that it had an
    international airport.
    
    Is this true?  If so, are there flights between Knock and the US?
    
    -- Jim

    Because of the famous (infamous? ) Shannon stopover requirement on
    Transatlantic flights, there are no direct scheduled services to Horan
    International Airport (Knock). Chartered flights call in there
    sometimes.
    

    That infamous Shannon stopover requirement is some of the cause that
    flights are so expensive.   Air Rianta seemly charge alot for 
    landing there, even though the planes have no other choice.   Could
    only happen in Ireland.
    
    
    Bernie

    I have attended meetings where all the politicians of whatever party or
    rank were in favour of retaining the Shannon stopover because the votes
    are in it and they are afraid they will lose their seats if they don't
    favour its retention. The minister for transport at the time that a
    decision to retain the stopover was made is from the west and knew that
    to lift the requirement would cost her votes and lose her seat in the
    D�il.
    
    I speculate that European regulations will be cited as the cause of
    lifting the stopover requirement in the near future so that the
    politicos can have some outside force to blame in an attempt to lessen
    the electoral damage such a decision might cause.
    
    Such decisions should but placed in the hands of an independent board
    in my opinion. 
    

    RE: .28  by LJOHUB::HORGAN 
    
    >Round Tower Travel in Norwood has a charter for $499 plus tax.  
    >The number is 800-225-9988.  
    
    I called and checked on this.  It's $499 +$35 tax Boston<->Shannon,
    leaves on a Thursday, returns on a Friday.  $100 deposit required,
    balance due 40 days prior to departure.  Planes are American TransAir.
    

    re: .44
    
    Dennis,
    
    Caveat Emptor. (Or, if you prefer something that rhymes:
                    Beware, America TransAir.!)
    
    This is not to say they are a rip-off. Rather, Ch.7 had a news segment
    about them several months ago. Seems they were supposed to be flying
    out of Boston for (Aruba I think, or some Caribbean island) at 4a.m. on a
    Friday. If I remember correctly, there were a few honeymooners on this 
    flight too - some who had to cut their reception short the evening
    previously so they could get to the airport on time. 
    
    Anyway, *two days* later, on Sunday, with all the people scheduled for 
    the flight having to sleep on the airport terminal chairs because the 
    charter co. wouldn't  put them up in hotels, there was almost a riot at the 
    terminal at Logan. Pretty ugly scene.
    
    If you are going to use them, plan accordingly. Certainly do not make
    hard and fast plans to be anywhere on time. Make sure you have some 
    back-up plans so you are not stranded (either here or at Shannon) for
    several days while waiting for another Transair plane to show up. 
                     

    Joe's right.  Have alternate plans.  I've flown TransAir
    charter before without any problems.  However, I guess I
    was lucky.
    
    One thing on TransAir is that they pack you in like sardines
    on the plane.

    Given that TransAir flies into Shannon and I need to go on to Dublin,
    the savings might not be worth it.  How much would it cost to get from
    Shannon to Dublin by bus or train?
    

Having flown on TransAir for one vacation, I refuse to ever again book a
flight on anything other than a regularly scheduled airline.  I also have
refused to use the associated travel agent again, even thought It is only 
a 1/2 mile from my home.

TOm